The History And Usefulness Of Coenzyme Q10

Throughout my childhood I was aware of the importance of eating well and taking my vitamins. But the science of dietary supplements has come a long way since those days. And one of the stars in this scientific progression is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 is not a drug. It is a vitamin-like substance that is found in small amounts in a variety of foods and is synthesized within our body tissues.

Enzymes are compounds in the body that are absolutely essential for the many processes necessary to keep us alive and our bodies functioning properly. Mitochondrial enzymes are those particular enzymes that are essential for the production of the high-energy phosphate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) upon which all cellular function depends. Without it our bodies shut down at the cellular level. Coenzyme Q10 is the cofactor upon which at least three mitochondrial enzymes depend. By logical inference then ATP functioning depends upon CoQ10. In short, all human cellular function depends on ATP. And ATP function depends on CoQ10.

As was already said, the production of CoQ10 occurs within our body tissues. Its biosynthesis from the amino acid tyrosine is a complex multistage process requiring several vitamins and trace elements. Under normal conditions we produce all we need while we are young. But there are many factors that can contribute to CoQ10 deficiency. Among these are aging, disease, dietary deficiency, use of statin drugs and increasing tissue demands. Before we get to CoQ10 deficiencies, however, it is well to look at the history of CoQ10 research.

History

CoQ10 was first isolated by Dr. Frederick Crane in 1957 from the mitochondria of beef heart. During that same year Professor Morton, from Britain, also discovered CoQ10 in the livers of vitamin A deficient rats. During the following year researchers at Merck, Inc. determined its chemical structure and became the first to produce it.

It was neither the British nor the Americans that first found a practical use for the CoQ compounds. Professor Yamamura from Japan first used a related compound (CoQ7) in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Other practical uses then followed. CoQ6 was used as an effective antioxidant in the mid 1960s. In 1972 (in Italy) deficiency of CoQ10 was linked to heart disease. The Japanese, however, were the first to perfect the technology necessary to produce CoQ10 in sizeable enough quantities to make large clinical trials a reality.

After Peter Mitchell won the Nobel Prize in 1978 for defining the biological energy transfer that occurs at the cellular level (for which CoQ10 is essential) there was a considerable increase in the number of clinical studies performed in relation to CoQ10 usefulness. This was due in part to the large amounts of pharmaceutical grade CoQ10 that was now available from Japan and the ability to measure CoQ10 in blood and body tissues. CoQ10 since has become known for its importance as a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger and as a treatment in many chronic illnesses, especially heart disease.

Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency

The usefulness of CoQ10 as a medical treatment has largely been approached from the perspective that when a chronic disease is present (especially in the case of heart disease) CoQ10 is often grossly deficient. For example, a person suffering from congestive heart failure often demonstrates extreme CoQ10 deficiency. Normal blood and tissue levels of CoQ10 have been well established. Significantly low levels of CoQ10 have been linked to a vast variety of diseases in both animal and human studies.

But if CoQ10 is biosynthesized in our bodies why do we often suffer from deficiency? There are at least three causes. The first is an insufficient diet. Dietary intake of CoQ10 is an important factor in total blood and tissue levels of the compound. If we do not consume enough of the foods that contain CoQ10 then the body must make up the difference. Further, the biosynthesis of Coenzyme Q10 is a complex 17-step process involving a whole string of B vitamins, vitamin C and pantothenic acid. Diets deficient in these compounds make CoQ10 synthesis impossible. This is not the place to discuss the condition of the average diet and the vitamin deficient nature of many of our food sources. Suffice it to say that most of us do not get nearly enough CoQ10 or the other vitamins necessary for optimal synthesis.

The second cause of deficiency is linked to the first, and that is impairment of CoQ10 biosynthesis. In addition to inadequate intakes of the compounds necessary to make CoQ10 there are other biological reasons for inadequate production of it. These might include physiological conditions and chronic diseases that cause failure in production. The treatments of diseases can also be a factor. For instance the use of statins to control cholesterol levels has been implicated in the depletion of CoQ10 levels. The catch-22 is, in treating heart disease we use drugs that deplete natural compounds that in turn are necessary to fight heart disease.

The third cause of CoQ10 deficiency is excessive use of the compound by the body. This again can be related to medications, aging or other causes such as excessive exertion, hypermetabolism, and acute shock states.

The real cause of CoQ10 deficiency is usually a combination of these three influences. It is likely that the average CoQ10 levels which have been observed in humans are suboptimal. In other words, the normal levels of CoQ10 that have become the standard for comparisons are very likely less than optimal. That would mean that the extremely low levels observed in connection with chronic diseases are just the worse case scenarios and that other less serious maladies are connected with lesser levels of deficiency.

If this sounds too much like laboratory theory, it isnâ??t. Patients who suffer from chronic diseases and also demonstrate extreme low levels of CoQ10 are not laboratory specimens. They are people who, in many cases, have been greatly helped by CoQ10 supplementation. If chronic disease is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to CoQ10 deficiency one is forced to wonder what better diets and CoQ10 supplementing could do for the eradication of diseases and other chronic conditions.

Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.

http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/coq10.html

---

Calcium and Women: For More Than Just Bones

For women, calcium is one of the most important nutrients... Read More

Taste is Everything When Choosing a Protein Bar

As consumers, we are faced daily with choices about what... Read More

Vitamin Supplements in a Liquid World

Every day, it seems like we are living in an... Read More

Ganoderma Lucidum - The Wonder Herb

One of the most apparent influences modern times has brought... Read More

Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Hair

A lot of people actually pay a good deal of... Read More

Vitamin Euphoria ? A Shot in the Dark

Vitamins seem to be so good for everything. The newly... Read More

Creatine, Caffeine, and Carbohydrates - Supplements That Work

It would seem that everyone is looking to squeeze the... Read More

Fish Oil and Possible Disease Prevention

Researchers working at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center state that... Read More

Amino Acids For Height Growth ? Boosting Your Growth Hormones

Many people take amino acids for height growth these days.... Read More

The Most Important Supplement You Can Take For Better Health

This article will reveal one easy change you can make... Read More

GlutImmune: Powder for Immunity and Digestion

GlutImmune? is a very convenient high absorption source of glutamine.... Read More

A Guide to Herbal Sleep Aids

Difficulty sleeping can affect many aspects of life. People who... Read More

Omega 3 and Reduced Risk of Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction is a technical term used to describe an... Read More

The Shocking Truth About Eight Deadly Diseases That May Be Affecting Your Health and Lifestyle

I came across an article written by Dr. Ray Strand,... Read More

B-Vitamins Help Promote Healthy Arteries and Heart

A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science... Read More

Kanhaiya Amla Powder

AMLA ( EMBLICA OFFICINALIS ) FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTYAMLA, proudly... Read More

Beneficial Effects of Vitamins and Minerals To Your Blood

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the health... Read More

Natural Tonics for Health and Wellness

I'm a great believer in natural tonics to strengthen or... Read More

Why Are Antioxidants Important To Me?

Did you know that when we breath oxygen, it interacts... Read More

Superior Absorption of Coral Calcium

Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a... Read More

Vitamin Supplements ? A Pill is Not Always the Answer

Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very... Read More

Why Do Liquid Form Nutritional Supplements Have Much Greater Bodily Absorption Than Pills?

Did you know that when you take vitamins and minerals... Read More

Nutrition Supplements for Aging Americans

While America has given birth to the song "Young at... Read More

The Liquid Vitamin Mineral Supplement

The liquid vitamin mineral supplement is a must have for... Read More

How Colostrum Differs From Herbal Remedies

At some time or another, most people have taken some... Read More

Are Glyconutrients for Real?

If glyconutrients are for real, why aren't they all over... Read More

More Complete Arthritis Supplement

People accept arthritic disease as a 'natural part of the... Read More

Will Your Vitamins Be Banned?

Imagine this scenario by the end of next August...You contact... Read More

The Trillion Dollar Industry

There is a generation called the baby boomers that make... Read More

The Effects of an no2 Supplement on Your Body

Our system uses a free-form gas called Nitric Oxide as... Read More

How Does Whey Protein Affect My Body?

Whey protein is available in supplement form and whey protein... Read More

Side Effects of Fish Oil

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of fatty... Read More

What is HGH?

Hormones are chemical messengers made up of amino acids and... Read More